Taking college classes online not always a money-saver

Updated 11:52 am, Sunday, December 2, 2012

AUSTIN- Online courses offered through public universities in Texas typically cost the student the same as traditional classes - and sometimes more - though the cost to the school to provide them varies.

That is not the premise behind Gov. Rick Perry's encouragement of online learning as part of his recent push for more accessible and less expensive college education.

University officials, however, said it is a reflection of start-up costs associated with a new way of teaching and learning.

Online courses allow students more flexibility and convenience than getting to a classroom and being face to face with a professor. Universities benefit from handling more students without having to devote the resources and facilities they would need if they were physically on campus.

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Over the summer, responding to a request last year from the Legislature, the board asked every public higher education institution to estimate what it would cost them to develop and execute their four most popular degree programs online.

Chavez said he could not list the degree programs until the board's staff reports its findings to a committee Dec. 12.

One problem with compiling the information, he said, was that no "nationally unified accounting practice" existed to determine the costs associated with providing online education.

"Building an online infrastructure has a large up-front cost, but can save the university space and money over years of using the technologies," he said.

Adding some fees

It is not clear when universities will be passing those savings to students. Most public universities, including the University of Houston, discount some service fees for students enrolled exclusively in online classes.

However, some schools, such as the Texas A&M University System and Texas State University-San Marcos, charge an additional "electronic" or "technology" course fee of up to $150 per online course.

Debbie Thorne, associate vice president for academic affairs at Texas State, said the fee goes toward the development of future online courses. It can cost a school between $75,000 and $200,000 to "translate" a course into an online format, she said.

"The cost is highly dependent on the course material," Thorne said. "But the idea that online learning is always less expensive is false."

For example, a writing-intensive English course would be much easier to convert to an online format than a physical therapy course where many videos and simulations would have to be developed, she said.

A spokeswoman for the governor said Perry did not want to "micromanage" universities but continues to believe that online courses will save money.

"Gov. Perry has been pushing schools to use more online tools and courses because that does allow more affordable courses and degrees," said spokeswoman Catherine Frazier.

Schools in the University of Texas System, including UTSA, charge the same tuition for online courses as regular classroom-based courses, without an extra fee.

Free, but no credit

The system last month announced a $10 million investment to develop online courses with the large provider of massive open online courses edX. The system will offer at least five free online courses - but not for course credit - for anyone with internet access by fall 2013.

Eventually, the system will offer courses for credit, said UT system spokeswoman Jenny LaCoste-Caputo. She said online courses that offer more access and availability can decrease the time it takes a student to complete a degree, resulting in cost-savings.

"It's about increased access to high-quality courses no matter where you are," Caputo said. "And being able to get into the courses that you need, when you need them."

Michael Morton, president of the Senate of College Councils at UT Austin, said his online course was useful because it allowed him to work around his schedule. He said some courses are better taken online, such as a course on social media.